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Quality Q&A : What information should you evaluate when considering new suppliers? (Part 2)

The June quarterly newsletter started discussing supplier selection. And based on the feedback, we wanted to expand on the topic and get some additional insight from our team.

As a follow-up, we reached out to our senior auditing manager in China, Jean Champlain, and asked what he thought having visited hundreds of suppliers all over the world.

Per Champlain, information that should be evaluated when considering new suppliers can be generalized as follows:

Legality

Verifying legality is to verify if the new supplier is legally operating in the country of consideration, including having an official business license and/or other legal certifications.

Quality

Verifying quality answers the question of whether or not a new supplier can ensure the quality of produce or service with an effective QMS, not just an ISO 9001 certificate.

Capability

Verifying capability is checking if production processes have suitable machines and inspection / test equipment.

Capacity

Verifying capacity is to check if the new supplier has enough manpower and machines to handle planned and unplanned production orders from the client.

Financial / Credit History

Verifying the financial stability ensures legitimacy and provides a snapshot of their standing against partners and local governments.

Champlain also notes that many clients/vendors, such as Wal-Mart, BJ’s, Dick’s, etc. are also interested in social practices and environmental protection of the applicable suppliers. These requirements are also a consideration when evaluating new partners.